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Brabantio in Shakespeare's "Othello" £7.49
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  3. PEARSON (PEARSON)
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  5. English Literature 2015
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  7. Unit 1 - Drama

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Brabantio in Shakespeare's "Othello"

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A full, in-depth A* essay plan exploring the character of Brabantio in Shakespeare's "Othello", for the Pearson Edexcel A-Level English Literature.

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  • June 30, 2023
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  • 2022/2023
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brabantio
Introduction –
o Used by Shakespeare to present themes of racism, sexism and male inability to
comprehend female complexity
o Some consider him a minor character, but is not: character was in Giraldi’s version
(the version which inspired Shakespeare’s Othello), so must have some literary value

Presents role of women
o “I do perceive here a divided duty” – alliteration demands attention while
emphasising underlying foundation of female duty to men as woman came from
man’s rib (Genesis 2) – duty either way (be that to Othello or Brabantio) – “duty” to a
black moor over white, reputable, status – must take her circumstances into account
(white, high status, reputable woman – submits to Moor, not Brabantio, defiant to
father and to society)
o Through Brabantio, Shakespeare presents danger of black men and
untrustworthiness of women – Neill says Giraldi’s original message was to warn
women against marriage to black men due to their dangerous natures and Rymer
believes purpose of play is to warn fathers to watch their daughters
o Since Othello kills Desdemona, Shakespeare warns audience that black stereotypes
are true and that Brabantio should have watched over his daughter

Racism to Othello
o “chains of magic” – metaphor emphasizing Othello’s power over wife and how he
trapped her against her will; predatory, she is weak and helpless; “chains”
connotations of slavery and ongoing trans-Atlantic slave trade industry; integrates
the strong beliefs in witchcraft amongst Jacobean society - James I wrote about
“Daemonologie” – belief that black connoted black magic and evil
o Burnett “he himself is a racially oppressed figure in an unfamiliar environment where
the attitudes of the white majority prevail”

Complexity
o Shows complexity of character in saying both Desdemona is “so tender, fair and
happy” yet “trust not your daughters’ minds”
o Men don’t comprehend complexity of the women Shakespeare crafted (Blamires:
results in tragically ironic ending; “strumpet” and accused of adultery yet supposedly
dies a virgin)
o Pointed out that men like Brabantio see women as “either sub or superhuman”
(Robertson) - mocks men for viewing women as either “pure and innocent” or
“vulgar” and “common” with no middle ground
o Shakespeare uses Brabantio as a tool to show male inability to comprehend female
complexity

Shakespeare’s tool to present controversial racial views
o Shakespeare presents Othello as more educated that the white characters (in this
case, Brabantio)
o Brabantio’s speech is emotional and ambiguous: “I’ll have’t disputed on – ‘tis
probable, and palpable to thinking. I therefore apprehend” and Othello’s response is
logical and articulate “how may the Duke be therewith satisfied” – blank verse and
iambic pentameter presents Othello as more sophisticated than Brabantio whereas
Brabantio is seen as
o Only subtly suggested as the Elizabethan society wouldn’t have supported this view
(believed white were superior to black, and the possibility of a “beastly (Africanus)”
Moor being in any way superior to the white, respected general of Brabantio was
abhorrent)

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